Telescoping landleveler

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for leveling or grading the land surface that is constructed in the shape of an elongated rectangular frame including a central frame, a front frame and a rear frame. The front and rear frames are supported at their outer ends by wheels and are adapted to be telescopically inserted into and withdrawn from the central frame. Thus, the leveling apparatus may be shortened or lengthened in accordance with the demands of the work to be performed. A subframe assembly supporting a plurality of leveling blades is disposed beneath the central frame and supported thereon by a vertical lift mechanism. A hydraulic system provided on the leveler raises and lowers the leveling blades, turns the rear wheel, and telescopes the front and rear frames into and out of the central frame.

United States Patent 1 Estes 51 Apr. 2, 1974 TELESCOPING LANDLEVELER [75] Inventor: David A. Estes, De Witt, Ark.

[73] Assignee: Scott Landlevelers, lnc., De Witt,

Ark.

[22] Filed: Dec. 28, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 213,071

[52] U.S. Cl 172/780, 172/776, 280/34 A [51] Int. Cl E02f 3/12 [58] Field of Search 172/780; 280/34 A, 445; 172/776 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,994,143 8/1961 Kenney 172/780 3,036,392 5/1962 Marvin et a1... 172/780 3,266,180 8/1966 Toland 172/780 3,685,853 8/1972 Goldsmith... 280/34 A 2,930,631 3/1960 Voorhees 280/445 2,812,088 11/1957 Cadillac et al.. 280/34 A 3,116,085 12/1963 Uttley 280/34 A 3,239,274 3/1966 Weiss 280/34 A Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Pellegrino Attorney, Agent, or FirmClarence A. O'Brien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for leveling or grading the land surface that is constructed in the shape of an elongated rectangular frame including a central frame, a front frame and a rear frame. The front and rear frames are supported at their outer ends by wheels and are adapted to be telescopically inserted into and withdrawn from the central frame. Thus, the leveling apparatus may be shortened or lengthened in accordance with the demands of the work to be performed. A subframe assembly supporting a plurality of leveling blades is disposed beneath the central frame and supported thereon by a vertical lift mechanism. A hydraulic system provided on the leveler raises and lowers the leveling blades, turns the rear wheel, and telescopes the front and rear frames into and out of the central frame.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures TELESCOPING LANDLEVELER This invention is related to earth leveling equipment. More particularly, the invention relates to a land leveler having a frame divided into sections which may be telescopically inserted within each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Land levelers are necessary apparatus in surface irrigation and drainage in growing certain crops. In many applications where accurate land leveling is desired it is required that the land leveler equipment have a relatively long length; for example, a length of upwards of 60 feet or more. However, there are also jobs requiring a shorter length. Since most land levelers are constructed to have an elongated rigid frame of considerable length, problems arise when a shorter length is desired or when it is necessary to turn the apparatus around or transport it on the road. Thus, a land leveler that provides means for increasing or shortening its length would overcome the above problems.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a land leveler in which the sections are adapted to telescope within each other.

It is another object of the invention to provide a land leveler having telescoping sections which may be automatically extended and contracted to desired overall length.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide automatic means in a land leveler for raising and lowering the leveling blades from the ground.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a land leveler having telescoping sections wherein the length of the leveler may be set manually.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a land leveler having a plurality of leveling blades which are adapted to vary the cutting angle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a land leveler having an elongated frame including a central section, a front section and a rear section. The central section is rigid in construction and generally box-shaped in configuration. The front and rear sections are provided with wheels at their outer ends and are also generally box shaped in construction but have triangular truss-shaped outer ends. The external peripheral dimensions of the front and rear sections are designed to be smaller than the internal dimensions of the central section. Thus, the front and rear'sections are capable of and adaptable to being telescopically inserted within the central section. Means are provided in the four inside corners of the central section to guide the front and rear sections as they are moved into the central section. Depending from the central section on a subframe assembly are a plurality of leveling blades having means thereon for adjusting the cutting angle. A hydraulic system is provided to raise and lower the leveling blades so as to engage and disengage them from the land surface. The hydraulic system also automatically telescopes the front and rear sections into the central section and turns the rear wheel.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the land leveler showing the front and rear sections fully telescoped within the central section and also showing the leveling blades in a raised position;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the land leveler;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the land leveler taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view with parts omitted showing the front and rear sections fully extended from the central section and also showing the leveling blades in the lowered position;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the angular positioning of the leveling blades;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the rear wheel assembly;

FIG. 8 is a sectional plan view of one of the leveling blades; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown generally at 11 the telescoping land leveler of the invention. Land leveler 11 is of rigid metal construction and comprise an elongated rectangular central section 12, a front section 14, and a rear section 16. Central section 12 comprises a pair of transversely spaced upstanding rectangular trusses 23. Trusses 23 comprise bottom angle bars 31 and top angle bars 33 which are connected together by braces 36. Trusses 23 are bridged by front and rear cross end members 41 and 43. A plurality of cross members 39 intermediate of cross end members 41 and 43 are connected to the upper and lower angle bars 31 and 33 of trusses 23 to provide additional frame strength.

Mounted at spaced intervals along the outward sides of trusses 23 are vertically upstanding tubular lift members 38, 40 and 42, all of which are connected to subframe assembly 34 which is disposed beneath central section 12. Tubular lift members 38, 40 and 42 serve to raise and lower subframe assembly 34.

A pair of hydraulic cylinders 48 and 50 lie longitudinally within the bottom of central section 12. Hydraulic cylinder 48 is positioned to the rear of central section 12 and hydraulic cylinder 50 is positioned to the front of central section 12. Mounted intermediate and inwardly of central section 12 are a pair of upstanding lugs 141 and 143 (FIG. 2). The cylinder stem of cylinder 48 is connected to lug 141 and the piston rod 46 of cylinder 48 is attached to a pair of lugs 44 mounted on the bottom frame of rear section 16. The stem of cylinder 50 is attached to a pair of lugs 143 which are positioned adjacent lug 141 on central section 12 and the piston rod 52 of cylinder 50 is attached to a pair of lugs 51 mounted in the bottom frame of front section 14.

Hydraulic cylinders 48 and 50 when operated extend piston rods 46 and 52 respectively. Since the piston rods 46 and 52 are affixed to the rear and front sections respectively, the rear and front sections will be extended outwardly from central section 12 in which they are inserted as shown.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pair of hydraulic cylinders 108 and 144 are vertically mounted centrally of central section 12 with cylinder 108 positioned forwardly and cylinder 144 positioned rearwardly of central section 12. Cylinders 108 and 144 serve to raise and lower subframe assembly 34 which supports leveling blades 56, 58 and 60. Since the forward and rear vertical cylinders 108 and 144 are similar in construction and operation only the front cylinder 108 will be discussed in detail.

The stem of cylinder 108 is fixedly mounted to a pair of lugs 1 12 situated centrally of the bottom cross frame 39 of central section 12 and piston rod 110 of cylinder 108 is fixedly mounted to a crossbeam 120 by a pair of lugs 106. Crossbeam 120 bridges a pair of tubular lifting posts 38. Lifting posts 38 slide vertically within outer tubes 47 which serve as vertical alignment guides for posts 38. Lifting posts 40 and 42 have similar vertical guide tubes 49 and 53. It is noted that middle lifting posts 40 are not actuated by hydraulic means since front and rear cylinders 108 and 144 are sufficient for that purpose. However, lifting posts 40 do serve the purpose of providing additional guides for vertical alignment.

Subframe assembly 34, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, is disposed below central section 12 and is supported by lifting posts 38, 40 and 42. As best seen in FIG. 2, subframe assembly 34 takes the shape of a parallelogram having side frames 133 running parallel to trusses 23 of central section 12. Trusses 54 of subframe assembly 34 are mounted on side frames 133 and braces 134 are attached to trusses 54 and cross frame 152 for additional frame support. It is seen from the drawings that side frames 133 of subframe assembly 34 extend laterally beyond trusses 23 of central section 12 and are joined at their ends by diagonally positioned front and rear cross frames 131. The length of subframe assembly is somewhat shorter than the length of central section 12.

Leveling blades 56, 58 and 60 are pivotally supported on the underside of subframe assembly 34 by means of cross frames 152. As seen in FIG. 2, leveler blades 56, 58 and 60 are spaced from each other on subframe 34. Also, middle blade 58 is shifted laterally to one side so that it does not follow in the tracks of front and rear blades 56 and 60. The leveling blades are designed to be turned parallel with the longitudinal axis of the central section 12 for transport thus, narrowing the overall width of the machine. The blades are also designed to be set at various angles. For example, an angle of 53 provides a cutting width of 12 feet, an angle of 45 provides a cutting width of 14 feet or an angle of provides a cutting width of 16 feet.

To position and lock the leveling blades 56, 58 and 60 at the desired cutting angle, a plurality of brackets 67 having apertures 69 therein are mounted in spaced relation on the side frames 133 of subframe assembly 34, as seen in FIGS. 8 and'9. To set the blade at the desired cutting angle, a bolt 158 is passed through aligned apertures of brackets 67 and blade mounting member 62. Nut 160 is then tightened to bolt 158 to lock the blade at the set angle. As seen in FIG. 3, the leveler blades rotate in bearing 128. Bolt 96 threadedly engages bore 130 in bearing 128 to affix the leveling blade to subframe assembly 34 and is locked in position by a nut 122. Referring back to FIG. 1 it is seen that the leveler blades 56, 58 and 60 are designed to trip rearwardly by means of spring 64 and pivoting bars 66, 68

and 70 when obstructions are encountered by the blades on the land surface.

Turning now to FIG. 5, the front and rear sections 14 and 16 respectively re shown completely extended from central section 12. The front and rear sections are supported at one end by the central section 12 and at the other end by wheels 18 and 18a respectively. The front and rear sections have a generally rectangular section attached to which is a downwardly inclined triangular truss section to which wheels 18 and 18a are mounted. The external peripheral dimensions as seen from an endwise view of the rectangular portion of front and rear sections 14 and 16 are smaller than the internal dimensions of central section 12 so that they may be easily inserted or telescoped within central section 12. This telescoping action may be considered as inserting a box within a box. Suitable stop means are provided by the flanges of end bracing units 30 and 30a which prevent the telescoping ends of front and rear sections 14 and 16 from abutting each other when they are fully inserted within the central section. Turning briefly, to FIGS. 3 and 4, angle bars 31 and 33 of central section 12 serve to evenly guide the angle bars 162 and 164 of front section 14 into and out of the central section.

Returning again to FIG. 5, front section 14 comprises bottom angle bars 162 and top angle bars 164. Angle bars 162 and 164 are trussed together in the same manner as trusses 23 and are bridged by front and rear boxshaped or rectangular end bracing units 30 and 30a. The downwardly inclined triangular truss of front section 14 has pairs of angle bars 22 and 24 connected at one end to the forward bracing unit 30 and at the other end converge to connect to a cross member 21 as shown in FIG. 2.

Spaced horizontally along bottom angle bars 162 of front section 14 are a plurality of slotted lugs 156. Lugs 156 when aligned with lugs 153 positioned at the bottom of angle bars 31 of central section 12 and a bolt 157 passed therethrough will lock the front section 14 in place preventing relative movement between it and central section 12.

Rear section 16 is constructed substantially the same as front section 14 and similar structure is indicated by the same reference numerals with addition of the letter a following. The wheels 18a of rear section 16 are designed to move independently of or in conjunction with wheels 18 of front section 14. As seen in FIG. 7 angle bars 22a and 24a joined by cross member 21a are supported on axle 86a. Wheel posts or kingpins 88a support wheels 18a from a spindle assembly with the kingpins 88a being pivotally mounted from axle 86a in a known manner. Steering arms 90a are connected between kingpins 88a and tie rod 96a. Tie rod 96a connects steering arms 90a together for retaining the wheels parallel. A hydraulic cylinder 98 is attached to a lug 106 mounted on the rear frame 16 and the piston rod 104 of hydraulic cylinder 98 is pivotally connected at 102 to arm 100 which rotates in bearing shaft or sleeve 101 to turn Wheels 18a left or right independently of front wheels 18 by pivoting arm 92a. Tongue 80a of the rear section 16 slides inwardly for the working position and outwardly for telescoping the frame as shown in dooted section in FIG. 1.

In operation, the land leveler 11 is connected to tractor 200 by tongue 80 and toward over the field area to be leveled or graded. The tubing (FIGS. 3 and 7) of the hydraulic system of the land leveler is connected with the hydraulic system of the tractor so that the front and rear frames are telescopically inserted or withdrawn from the central section by cylinders 48 and 50 and the blades raised or lowered by cylinders 108 and 144 from hydraulic controls on the tractor. Moreover, the tractor operator controls the turn of the rear wheels independently of the front wheels by means of cylinder 98.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a landleveler adapted to be towed by a towing vehicle and including an elongated frame having a plurality of leveling blades supported therefrom, wheel means supporting the frame adjacent the front and rear thereof, means at the end of the frame for connection with a towing vehicle, that improvement in which the frame comprises a plurality of longitudinal sections telescopically related to each other, power means interconnecting said sections to longitudinally extend and retract the sections to vary the overall length of the landleveler, means guiding relative movement between the sections, and means locking the sections in extended and retracted positions, said frame sections including a center section, a front section and a rear section with the center section telescopically receiving the front and rear sections, said front and rear sections being disposed in aligned opposed relation to each other with the inner ends thereof disposed in adjacent opposed relation when in their retracted position, said power means including a pair of fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder assemblies interconnecting the center section and the front and rear sections respectively, said frame sections being skeletonized boxshaped members with the guide means including parallel top and bottom slidably nested longitudinally extending corner members.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said wheel means on each end of the frame includes front and rear wheels mounted for steering control with the rear wheel steering being independent of the front wheel steering.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said center section includes a subframe disposed in underlying relation, means adjustably supporting the subframe from the center section, and means mounting the leveling blades on the subframe.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the corner members are of right angular configuration and are in sliding contact throughout their length of telescopic adjustment, said power means for extending and retracting the front and rear sections including a pair of fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder assemblies, each of said assemblies having one end connected centrally interiorly of the center section and the oppofor locking the front and rear sections in longitudinally adjusted position.

5. In a landleveler adapted to be towed by a towing vehicle and including an elongated frame having a plurality of leveling blades supported therefrom, wheel means supporting the frame adjacent the front and rear thereof, means at the end of the frame for connection with a towing vehicle, that improvement in which the frame comprises a plurality of longitudinal sections telescopically related to each other, power means interconnecting said sections to longitudinally extend and retract the sections to vary the overall length of the landleveler, means guiding relative movement between the sections, and means locking the sections in extended and retracted positions, said frame sections including a center section, a front section and a rear section with the center section telescopically receiving the front and rear sections, said front and rear sections being disposed in aligned opposed relation to each other with the inner ends thereof disposed in adjacent opposed relation when in their retracted position, said wheel means including front steerable wheels and rear steerable wheels with the front steerable wheels including a forwardly extending tongue defining the means for connection with the towing vehicle with the front steerable wheels being connected with the tongue to steer the front wheels in response to pivotal movement of the tongue, said rear steerable wheels including power means operatively associated therewith to steerably control the rear wheels from a remote point, said center section including a subframe extending under a substantial longitudinal portion of the center section, said center section including a plurality of vertically disposed guide members thereon, said subframe including parallel, vertically disposed guide posts received in the tubular guides for guiding vertical movement of the subframe, power means interconnecting certain of the guide posts and the center section for raising and lowering the posts thereby raising and lowering the subframe, said leveling blades being mounted on said subframe to enable elevational changes in the blades.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said frame sections are skeletonized box-shaped members with the guide means including parallel top and bottom slidably nested longitudinally extending corner members, said corner members being of right angular configuration and in sliding contact throughout their length of telescopic adjustment, said power means for extending and retracting the front and rear sections including a pair of fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder assemblies, each of said assemblies having one end connected centrally interiorly of the center section and the opposite end attached interiorly of the front or rear section respectively intermediate the ends thereof, said means locking the sections in extended and retracted positions including alignable lugs on each of the sections and fastening devices extendable through the alignable lugs for locking the front and rear sections in longitudinally adjusted position.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said leveling blades are supported from said subframe for pivotal adjustment about a vertical axis and tripping movement about a horizontal axis.

8. In a landleveler adapted to be towed by a towing vehicle and including an elongated frame having a plurality of leveling blades supported therefrom, wheel means supporting the frame adjacent the front and rear nested longitudinally extending comer members, a subframe extending under a substantial longitudinal portion of the central portion of the frame, said subframe having a plurality of leveling blades mounted thereon, means interconnecting the frame and subframe to guide the subframe elevationally in relation to the frame, and power means interconnecting the frame and subframe to enable elevational changes of the leveling blades. 

1. In a landlevelEr adapted to be towed by a towing vehicle and including an elongated frame having a plurality of leveling blades supported therefrom, wheel means supporting the frame adjacent the front and rear thereof, means at the end of the frame for connection with a towing vehicle, that improvement in which the frame comprises a plurality of longitudinal sections telescopically related to each other, power means interconnecting said sections to longitudinally extend and retract the sections to vary the overall length of the landleveler, means guiding relative movement between the sections, and means locking the sections in extended and retracted positions, said frame sections including a center section, a front section and a rear section with the center section telescopically receiving the front and rear sections, said front and rear sections being disposed in aligned opposed relation to each other with the inner ends thereof disposed in adjacent opposed relation when in their retracted position, said power means including a pair of fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder assemblies interconnecting the center section and the front and rear sections respectively, said frame sections being skeletonized box-shaped members with the guide means including parallel top and bottom slidably nested longitudinally extending corner members.
 2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said wheel means on each end of the frame includes front and rear wheels mounted for steering control with the rear wheel steering being independent of the front wheel steering.
 3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said center section includes a subframe disposed in underlying relation, means adjustably supporting the subframe from the center section, and means mounting the leveling blades on the subframe.
 4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the corner members are of right angular configuration and are in sliding contact throughout their length of telescopic adjustment, said power means for extending and retracting the front and rear sections including a pair of fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder assemblies, each of said assemblies having one end connected centrally interiorly of the center section and the opposite end attached interiorly of the front or rear section respectively intermediate the ends thereof, said means locking the sections in extended and retracted positions including alignable lugs on each of the sections and fastening devices extendable through the alignable lugs for locking the front and rear sections in longitudinally adjusted position.
 5. In a landleveler adapted to be towed by a towing vehicle and including an elongated frame having a plurality of leveling blades supported therefrom, wheel means supporting the frame adjacent the front and rear thereof, means at the end of the frame for connection with a towing vehicle, that improvement in which the frame comprises a plurality of longitudinal sections telescopically related to each other, power means interconnecting said sections to longitudinally extend and retract the sections to vary the overall length of the landleveler, means guiding relative movement between the sections, and means locking the sections in extended and retracted positions, said frame sections including a center section, a front section and a rear section with the center section telescopically receiving the front and rear sections, said front and rear sections being disposed in aligned opposed relation to each other with the inner ends thereof disposed in adjacent opposed relation when in their retracted position, said wheel means including front steerable wheels and rear steerable wheels with the front steerable wheels including a forwardly extending tongue defining the means for connection with the towing vehicle with the front steerable wheels being connected with the tongue to steer the front wheels in response to pivotal movement of the tongue, said rear steerable wheels including power means operatively associated therEwith to steerably control the rear wheels from a remote point, said center section including a subframe extending under a substantial longitudinal portion of the center section, said center section including a plurality of vertically disposed guide members thereon, said subframe including parallel, vertically disposed guide posts received in the tubular guides for guiding vertical movement of the subframe, power means interconnecting certain of the guide posts and the center section for raising and lowering the posts thereby raising and lowering the subframe, said leveling blades being mounted on said subframe to enable elevational changes in the blades.
 6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said frame sections are skeletonized box-shaped members with the guide means including parallel top and bottom slidably nested longitudinally extending corner members, said corner members being of right angular configuration and in sliding contact throughout their length of telescopic adjustment, said power means for extending and retracting the front and rear sections including a pair of fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder assemblies, each of said assemblies having one end connected centrally interiorly of the center section and the opposite end attached interiorly of the front or rear section respectively intermediate the ends thereof, said means locking the sections in extended and retracted positions including alignable lugs on each of the sections and fastening devices extendable through the alignable lugs for locking the front and rear sections in longitudinally adjusted position.
 7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said leveling blades are supported from said subframe for pivotal adjustment about a vertical axis and tripping movement about a horizontal axis.
 8. In a landleveler adapted to be towed by a towing vehicle and including an elongated frame having a plurality of leveling blades supported therefrom, wheel means supporting the frame adjacent the front and rear thereof, means at the end of the frame for connection with a towing vehicle, that improvement in which the frame comprises a plurality of longitudinal frame sections telescopically related to each other, power means interconnecting said sections to longitudinally extend and retract the sections to vary the overall length of the landleveler, means guiding relative movement between the sections, and means locking the sections in extended and retracted positions, said frame sections being skeletonized box-shaped members with the guide means including parallel top and bottom slidably nested longitudinally extending corner members, a subframe extending under a substantial longitudinal portion of the central portion of the frame, said subframe having a plurality of leveling blades mounted thereon, means interconnecting the frame and subframe to guide the subframe elevationally in relation to the frame, and power means interconnecting the frame and subframe to enable elevational changes of the leveling blades. 